Lavell Edwards
Steve Young and the offense break the huddle and go to the line of scrimmage. He surveys the defense and tries to ignore the huge, unfriendly masses of humanity directly in front of him. He drops back to pass, looks over the field, and as he lets go of the ball, is smashed to the ground by a 295 lb. defensive lineman. Not wanting to show his pain, Steve says, "Great hit, Bubba! "* But Bubba doesn't get up. He pokes his finger into Steve's chest and says fiercely, "Are you a Mormon?" Shaking his head in bewilderment at this strange turn of events, Steve says, "Yeah!" "Are you sure you're a Mormon?" Bubba asks, poking him a couple more times. "Yeah, I'm sure! Now can I get up?" Players from both teams are coming to help, thinking there's trouble, so Bubba gets up and lets Steve return to the huddle.
A few plays later, Steve is running the ball, sweeping around the end, and he's clobbered on the sideline by a mountainous blur--Bubba! Ready to jump up, feigning physical well-being, Steve is once again pinned to the turf. "Are Mormons Christians?" Bubba demands. "Yea, we are," replies Steve, gasping for breath. "It's called the Church of Jesus Christ!" "Oh," responds Bubba, heaving his girth off of Steve.
Just before half ends, Steve hands off to the fullback and heads up field to block. As the play moves to the left, a shadow looms from the right and Bubba knocks Steve 10 feet through the air. Before Bubba has a chance to say a word, Steve says, "Bubba, I promise that right after the game, I'll meet with you and answer all your questions. Just let me live till then!"
This is a fictionalized version of a true incident. Steve and the defensive lineman did visit after the game, and Steve lived to tell the tale. We've also had a player at BYU on the opposite side of the conversation ball. In 1974, when "Golden questions" were still in vogue with the LDS missionaries, BYU was playing in its first bowl game, the Fiesta Bowl, in Arizona. Paul Linford was a big defensive lineman for BYU who still had the missionary zeal. The first time he hit the opposing quarterback, Paul asked him "What do you know about the Mormon Church?" The next time he and the quarterback made contact, he followed up with, "Do you want to know more?"'
Sports and spirituality at first might seem an odd mix. But you see players offering short prayers before, during, and after games. Athletes often thank God for their physical talents and opportunities. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a huge and growing organization throughout the country and the world.
Sports and religious beliefs are not actually at odds, as many people seem to think. I believe they actually complement each other. Most religious people believe their bodies, intellects and talents are gifts of God, gifts that should be taken care of, enhanced, and developed. Good athletes should want to take care of their bodies, to be as knowledgeable and ready as possible, and to develop their talents to full potential. The goals are the same.
There is much to be learned through participation in sports, be it individual or team, formal or casual. I see athletes develop and share their strengths, grow in leadership and interpersonal skills, and learn and refine qualities like loyalty, perseverance, dependability, and respect. A lot of people have an aggressive side to their nature and certain sports allow them to expend that energy on the field so that they can be "normal" off the field. Ty Detmer is a great example of this. On the field, he is intense and competitive, but off, he is a rather quiet jokester, a laid-back, spiritual family man.
A solid religious philosophy helps athletes keep proper perspective, to know what is important in life. The world isn't going to end if a team loses a contest; winning a game of H-O-R-S-E at all costs isn't worth losing a friend; a solid education and degree is a far more lasting and feasible result of an NCAA athletic scholarship than the off-chance of playing pro ball. From the time be became the "40 million dollar man," Steve Young has had to depend on his spiritual base to help him keep his priorities straight and make proper goals for himself. This is true for all of us, no matter what facet of life we are talking about.
Probably one of the greatest lessons I have learned through football is enduring to the end. The 1980 "Miracle Bowl ," our game against SMU in the Holiday Bowl, saw us 20 points down with less than four minutes left. We scored a touchdown, got an onside kick, scored again, stopped SMU's drive, and scored again on a "Hail Mary" pros from Jim McMahon to Clay Brown with three seconds left on the clock. The winning PAT was scored after time had run out. That game set the stage for many comebacks, including the gutsy performance by Robbie Bosco in the National Championship game and Ty Detmer bringing us back from 28 points down to tie San Diego State and win the WAC championship. For the coaches, players, and fans, such examples give inspiration to endure to the end in all areas of their lives, be it education, profession, relationships, or, most importantly, spirituality.
Sports can help build spiritual and religious character, and religious philosophy can make athletes better players through the formulation of their attitudes, work habits, priorities, and relationships. Athletics and spirituality make a great partnership and one that can become even stronger through awareness, example, and teaching.
*Name changed to protect Steve.